Nets Rediscover Biden Border Crisis on Eve of Demise of Title 42

On Tuesday, the big three evening news broadcasts rediscovered the Biden border crisis that seems to be getting worse with each passing day, and all it took for the deadline for the lifting of the Trump-era border policy called Title 42 to approach. Illustrating how front and center this news story is, both ABC’s World News Tonight and CBS Evening News led with the deteriorating conditions at the southern border and noted that the flood of illegals will only get worse when Title 42 is lifted altogether.

On ABC, correspondent Mireya Villarreal reported live from the U.S/Mexican border and noted: “border patrol agents are now bracing for the number to soar as more migrants try to cross into the U.S. when Trump-era COVID restrictions known as Title 42 end next week.”

ABC even aired a soundbite from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz on how much chaos there is on the southern border: 

I don’t have enough agents, I don’t have enough infrastructure, I don’t have enough technology. I have other areas where I think our agents have really locked down the border security situation. 

Meanwhile, on CBS Evening News, anchor Norah O’Donnell revealed that the Biden administration is “sending 1500 more active-duty troops” to the southern border. “The decision comes ahead of an expected surge of migrants when pandemic-era restrictions, known as Title 42, expire next week,” O’Donnell added. 

The CBS anchor then admitted that once Title 42 is officially lifted next week, “thousands more are expected to begin arriving every day.” 

Over on NBC Nightly News which covered the border later in the broadcast, White House correspondent Kristen Welker honed in on the devastation that the lifting of Title 42 will bring. A “surge of migrants is expected when that restriction lifts,” Welker noted adding that “this comes as there have been a record number of illegal border crossings last year, including 22,000 in just the last 72 hours.”

The transcripts of each segment are below: 

ABC’s World News Tonight
5/2/2023
6:33:55 p.m. Eastern

MIREYA VILLARREAL: Border patrol agents are now bracing for the number to soar as more migrants try to cross into the U.S. when Trump-era COVID restrictions known as Title 42 end next week. Those restrictions allowed the U.S. to send migrants back because of COVID concerns. Chief Raul Ortiz telling us with Title 42 expiring, he needs more help on the front lines.  

CHIEF RAUL ORTIZ (U.S. CUSTOMS & BORDER PATROL): I don’t have enough agents, I don’t have enough infrastructure, I don’t have enough technology.  I have other areas where I think our agents have really locked down the border security situation. 

VILLARREAL: Tonight, President Biden announcing he will send 1,500 active-duty troops to the border for the next 90 days. But the White House making it clear they will not have a law enforcement role.   

CBS Evening News
5/2/2023
6:32:16 p.m. Eastern 

NORAH O’DONNELL: We want to begin with news that the Biden administration is sending 1500 more active-duty troops, Marines, an army to the southern border. That’s in addition to the 2500 National Guard members already there. The decision comes ahead of an expected surge of migrants when pandemic-era restrictions, known as Title 42, expire next week. The Pentagon says the troops will not do law enforcement duties, although some will be armed. The goal is to free up border patrol agents to do their jobs. Under Title 42, law enforcement was given broad authority to turn away hundreds of thousands of people, including those seeking asylum on public health grounds. Well, once it expires next week, thousands more are expected to begin arriving every day.

NBC Nightly News
5/2/2023
6:37:57 p.m. Eastern 

LESTER HOLT: The Biden administration tonight announcing it’s sending 1500 troops to the southern border in anticipation of a surge of migrants when the border restriction known as Title 42 lifts next week. Kristen Welker is at the White House. Kristen, do we know when the troops will deploy? 

KRISTEN WELKER: Well, Lester, deployments begin on May 10, that’s the day before Title 42 lifts. President Biden is sending those 1500 active-duty military personnel to provide support at the border for 90 days. The troops will not make arrests or interact with migrants but will assist border patrol agents. More than 5,000 troops were sent to the border during the Trump administration. Now a surge of migrants is expected when that restriction lifts. Now this comes as there have been a record number of illegal border crossings last year, including 22,000 in just the last 72 hours. The President has faced bipartisan criticism over his policies. A top Republican downplaying the move, saying it could help at the margins. One top Democrat accusing the administration of militarizing the border. The White House says this is common practice. Lester?